Labour's Joanne Anderson elected Mayor of Liverpool

Labour’s candidate Joanne Marie Anderson has been elected as the city’s second-ever Mayor.

However, unlike her predecessor, Joe Anderson, she failed to win a majority of votes in the first round.

She won 38,958 votes in the first round with the second-placed independent candidate Stephen Yip coming in with 22,047 votes.

That put Anderson on 38%, lower than the 50% needed to win outright.

The second round saw a head to head race between Anderson and Yip with Anderson securing 46,493 votes over Yip’s 32,079

It’s the first time in the history of Liverpool’s City mayoral elections that the winning candidate didn’t secure a majority in the first round.

The 47-year-old has represented the Princes Park ward on the council since 2019.

She becomes the first women, and only second person ever to take on the role.

The previous mayor, Joe Anderson, stepped down last year after being arrested by Merseyside Police in relation to bribery charges, he denies any wrongdoing.

In her acceptance speech the new Mayor, Joanne Anderson said:

“The first thing I want to do is apologise to the city for what’s happened under the previous administration.”

“I’ve stood up because I want to make this right and I will do everything in my power to make it right.”

“I’m going to be honest about everything that’s happened in the past but I also want to be really hopeful about our future.”

“We want to build a city that is fair, that looks after its people, that is caring, transparent and inspirational.”

“Thank you for making me the first black woman to lead any city in the UK.”

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